1 The Speaker's Absence,The House being met, and the Speaker having leave of absence pursuant to paragraph (3) of Standing Order No. 3 (Deputy Speaker), Sir Alan Haselhurst, the Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table.

PRAYERS.

2 The Chairman of Ways and Means took the Chair as Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the Standing Order.

3 Liaison Committee,Mr Alan Williams reported, pursuant to Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee), That the Liaison Committee had directed him to report the following recommendation for the allocation of time for the consideration of an Estimate on an allotted day (being the first part of the second allotted day in the present Session of Parliament):

That a day not later than 18th March be allotted for the consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for the financial year 2004-05:

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in so far as it relates the Future of the BBC.

Report to lie upon the Table.

4 Message from the Lords,A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

Education Bill [Lords],The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision about the inspection of schools, child minding, day care, nursery education and careers services; to make other provision about school education; to make provision about the training of persons who work in schools and other persons who teach, about the supply of personal information for purposes related to education and about the attendance of children at educational provision outside schools; and for connected purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

5 Education Bill [Lords],The Education Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Monday 7th March and to be printed [Bill 77].

Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Education Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 77-EN].

6 Health and Safety (Directors' Duties) Bill,The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Health and Safety (Directors' Duties) Bill;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read a second time;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Tom Watson, Joan Ryan: 28.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Eric Forth, Mr Edward Leigh: 0.

And it appearing on the report of the Division that fewer than forty Members had taken part in the Division, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was not decided, and the business under consideration stood over until the next sitting of the House.

7 Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Amendment) Bill,The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Amendment) Bill;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time;

And it being half-past Two o'clock, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed on Friday 18th March.

8 Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill,The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill;

The Solicitor General acquainted the House, That she had it in command from the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Bill, has consented to place Her prerogative, so far as it is affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill.

And objection being taken to further proceeding;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 22nd April.

9 Succession to the Crown (No. 2) Bill,The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Succession to the Crown (No. 2) Bill;

The Solicitor General acquainted the House, That she had it in command from the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Bill, has consented to place Her prerogative, so far as it is affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill.

And objection being taken to further proceeding;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 22nd April.

10 Estate Agents (Independent Redress Scheme) Bill,The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Estate Agents (Independent Redress Scheme) Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 22nd April.

11 Adjournment,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn(Mr Tom Watson);

And the Motion having been made after half-past Two o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then one minute past Three o'clock, till Monday 7th March.

[Adjourned at 3.01 p.m.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday next.